Tamil Nadu - People's watch

to the Bodi Court. Pazhanivel and Marimuthu spent four days at the Uthamapalayam Sub-Jail before being
released on bail, on the condition that they sign in daily at the Town PS.
On 15 May 2007, Pazhanivel received a telephone call allegedly from Comrade Ravimurugan of the CPI,
requesting Pazhanivel to come to the tea-shop run by one Selvam.
When Pazhanivel arrived at the tea-shop on his two-wheeler, he realised that the telephone call had actually
been from the Kerala Police, of which twenty officers were waiting for him. The police took the key to
Pazhanivel’s two-wheeler, made him get into their vehicle, and took him to the Kanthamparai PS, Idukki
District, Kerala.
At the time of the fact-finding, Pazhanivel remained in custody. He alleges that he has been illegally detained
because he is a member of the Kal-Ottar community.
Tamil Nadu
34
FF Code : TN/SAC 50/JULY/07
Victim(s) : Saravanan
Perpetrator(s) : Murugan, PC
Location : Annathanapatti PS
Date of incident : 25/12/2006
Case Details:
Victim Saravanan, age 32, resides with his family at Thatagapatti, Salem.
In 2002, a fellow villager named Madeshwaran asked Saravanan to borrow some money to help address
a land dispute. Saravanan gave Madeshwaran Rs. 13,500 on two occasions and Rs. 12,000 on two other
occasions, asking Madeshwaran’s signature each time.
When Saravanan asked to have the money returned, Madeshwaran paid him only Rs. 15,000 and refused
to pay any more. Madeshwaran then filed a case against Saravanan at the Annathanapatti PS, alleging that
Saravanan had sexually harassed his wife. The police arrested Saravanan, and he was fined in court.
Frustrated, Saravanan tore Madeshwaran’s statement to pieces in front of the police.
Annual Report on Torture
2007
On 14 January 2007, the police brought Saravanan to the station and forced him to sign a statement that he
owed Madeshwaran four gold sovereigns.
On 5 March 2007, Madeshwaran attacked Saravanan. Saravanan tried to file a complaint at the station, but
PC Murugan refused to register the case. Instead, the PC charged Saravanan with torturing Madeshwaran’s
wife and daughter. The police beat Saravanan with batons all over his body and accused him of filing false
charges.